First of all sorry that this is out of sync – there are 3 other TRs in between my Spotty Easter in KNP and this one – but I want to get a coffee table book done of my trip to the park with Mum in October and I want it to be ready in time for Christmas. I have to go through my photos and will be re-living my trip as I do this so thought I might as well do my TR at the same time.

Mum has NEVER been to KNP … she absolutely loves animals, wildlife, nature, etc, and can’t wait to hear my stories and see my photos whenever I get back from Kruger. My Dad, on the other hand, isn’t that bothered – his philosophy is that if he wants to see some of the stuff I see in Kruger he can watch it on Nat Geo Wild! My parents have been happily married for 48 years and my Mum just doesn’t like leaving my Dad.

I finally convinced Mum to come to Kruger for a long weekend – just two nights; Dad would be fine – in fact, he’d probably enjoy the peace and quiet!

As those of you who have read my previous TRs know, I am now a “Converted Kruger Camper” – there’s just nothing to beat lying in a tent at night listening to the sounds of the bush! I knew I wouldn’t be able to convince Mum to go camping, but I sold the whole “safari tent experience” thing and booked two nights for us at Croc Bridge!

We left around 5am on Thursday 11 October and got to Malelane shortly after 9am.

We stopped at the bridge and spotted a Goliath heron, a great egret, an open-billed stork, a grey heron, crocs, impala and a male bushbuck sitting in the shade of one of the bushes.

We continued to Malelane Gate, parked up and were walking to Reception. It had only been a few weeks since I’d been there and Patrick recognised me/my car. He told me that EcoJunkie was in the office so Mum and I walked over to have a quick chat with her. The office is about 100 metres from the Reception.

As we were walking there, Mum pointed to the ground and asked “Wendy, what’s that?”

“Elephant poo!” I replied.

“Here? You mean there are elephants here? We’re not even in the park!” Mum exclaimed, rather shocked!

EJ heard us talking and came out to see what was going on. We had a chat and then she walked back to the Reception with us “to protect us from the elephants”!!!

We checked in then set off ... it was exactly 10am. The planned route was the H3 to Skukuza, a trip to Lake Panic, then the H4-1 to Lower Sabie and H4-2 to Croc Bridge.

The big birds were the first to greet us; first a bateleur, then a Whalberg’s eagle, then a tawny eagle who looked as if he was enjoying the leftovers of a guinea fowl.

Unfortunately a big tourist bus arrived from the opposite direction and didn’t even slow down. The eagle took off up into a tree and only then did the tourist bus stop for a quick 30-second photo-opportunity, before speeding off again.

Mum and I sat watching the eagle and also checked out the feathers that were spread out all over the road and scattered throughout the grass at the side of the road, speculating as to what had happened to the guinea fowl – it had to be a leopard! The bush was very thick – there was no seeing through it, but as we were looking, the eagle swooped down again to see if there were any more leftovers!

It carefully checked the bush to make sure the leopard wasn’t around …

then made his way into the tall grass where there were more tasty morsels to be found.

Other sightings that morning on the H3 included steenbok, a brown snake eagle, and ellies.

My Mum is ellie-crazy and I knew that Kruger would deliver on the ellie sightings!!! Mum was happy with this shot …

but I knew we’d get better! (little did I know HOW much better!!!)

We did a little detour onto the H1-1 Napi Road to go and check if the klipspringers were there, and were delighted to see them.

By this time it was nearly 5pm and we were a couple of hundred metres north of Lower Sabie … no time for a loo break; it was going to be straight down the H4-2 to Croc Bridge.

We stopped VERY briefly at Sunset, just enough for a quick peek to see what was going on. Yellow Billed storks were added to the sightings list as well as a Yellow Ribbon! It was Bert; unfortunately we only had time for a very quick chat – good to meet you Bert!

The last instalment that I posted … 2 and a half months ago … (OMG, has it really been that long???) was the start of day 2 in the park … here’s what happened shortly after taking the S28 where we saw the very wet kudu and the little bee-eater …

(It’s just taken me an hour and a half to upload 9 photos on to Photobucket … for some reason the 10th photo just will not upload and I am sick of trying now so only 9 photos in this instalment …)

And more of Mum’s favourite … ellies, including one who had a collar on and one who only had one tusk …

Then finally, a lilac breasted roller – mum was AMAZED by its colours!

Back on to the H4-2 and a little piggy running down the road …

Then half a dozen or so cars pulled over to the side of the road … I approached slowly, pulling up behind a safari truck. Next thing, the driver of the truck who was standing up, turned around … it was TINY!!! He told me that there was a leopard lying down behind a bush … Mum and I pulled in front of him to have a look and found it …

Not a great shot, but a leopard sighting is a leopard sighting!

We continued on to Lower Sabie where we had a quick break. The heavens had opened again and it was coming down in buckets. We drove on to Mlondozi - all was quiet at Sunset Dam apart from a croc, a couple of Egyptian Geese, and some hippos …

Sorry, sorry, sorry ... I promised an episode on Monday night but forgot I was dog-sitting ... actually it was puppy-sitting and the little thing was totally hyperactive and NOT happy unless I was giving her 100% attention!

We continued to Lower Sabie where we had a quick stop before heading back down the H4-2 to leave the park.

We’d had a lovely weekend, despite the weather. Mum had seen loads of ellies and will never ever forget the little newborn one; we’d seen spots – both cheetah and leopard; there had been a couple of nice herds of buffalo, and we’d had a number of rhino sightings too …